Learn about training

The Commonwealth’s community of counter-fraud practitioners is critical for protecting public services and fighting economic crime.

Preventing fraud is everyone’s responsibility. However, officials primarily employed in preventing, detecting and investigating fraud require particular qualifications and training to develop specialist skills, experience and knowledge. Explore the required and recommended training and qualifications outlined in the Commonwealth Fraud Control Framework below.

Training for all Commonwealth officials

All Commonwealth entities must provide all staff with fraud awareness training to educate them about what fraud is and how to report it.

Speak to your Learning and Development Team to find out what fraud training is available. Training methods differ between entities but could include:

• a fraud awareness e-learning module upon commencement
• annual refresher modules
• face-to-face training.

A fraud awareness e-learning module is also available on the whole of government Learnhub platform. Contact your Learning and Development Team to see if your entity has access to the Learnhub platform.

Government officials involved in fraud control or investigations have additional training requirements.

Entities with a greater exposure to fraud may consider developing specialised training programs for their staff to make sure the potential risks to their business are minimised.

Training for fraud control

Commonwealth officials primarily employed in fraud control should:

• receive additional training and obtain professional qualifications
• continue to have ongoing professional development to further develop and update their expertise and skills
• refresh their knowledge and skills at least every three years.

Officials not primarily employed in fraud control may wish to complete individual units from fraud related qualifications or attend other training.

The Commonwealth Fraud Control Framework recommends the following qualifications for fraud control:

• Certificate IV in Government Security or equivalent qualification for officials implementing fraud control.
• Diploma of Government (Fraud Control) or equivalent qualification for officials managing fraud control.

Visit Training.gov.au for more information.

Training for fraud investigations

Fraud investigators with appropriate training and qualifications will be better placed to collect evidence that would be admissible in criminal proceedings and not alert suspects in doing so. Individuals involved in fraud investigation should:

• be supervised by an appropriately qualified person if not yet appropriately trained or qualified
• receive additional training and obtain professional qualifications within the first 12 months of employment

• meet the required fraud control competency requirements set out in the Australian Government Investigations Standards (AGIS)
• follow the Australian Government Investigations Standards.

The Australian Government Investigation Standards require the following qualifications for fraud investigators:

• Certificate IV in Government (Investigation) or equivalent qualification for staff primarily engaged as an investigator or is under the supervision of a qualified investigator.
• Diploma of Government (Investigation) or equivalent qualification for staff primarily engaged in the coordination and supervision of investigations.

Visit Training.gov.au for more information.

The counter-fraud profession

Over the longer term the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre aims to establish a counter-fraud profession to help:

• entities to identify individuals with specialist counter-fraud skills
• build counter-fraud careers based on agreed professional industry standards.

The UK Cabinet Office has developed and standardised a Government Counter Fraud Profession for those protecting public services and fighting economic crime.

Work with us

Interested in working for the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre at the Attorney-General's Department? Monitor APS Jobs or register with the Attorney-General's Department's Temporary Employment Register.